Eastern Freeway outbound night works, 20 and 21 May, 9:30pm to 6am

We’re moving some of the large light poles along the Eastern Freeway near the Hoddle Street entry. To do this, we need to fully close the Eastern Freeway outbound between Wellington Street and Chandler Highway over 2 nights.

When we do this, you won't be able to access the Eastern Freeway from Hoddle Street or Alexandra Parade, but there will be detours via:

Queens Parade

Heidelberg Road

Chandler Highway

When you approach the freeway from Hoddle Street, you can use Victoria Street, High Street, Princes Street then Chandler Highway.

Alexandra Parade slip lane closure - works to late June

We’re working on the slip lane from Hoddle Street onto Alexandra Parade until late June.

We’re adding a barrier on the south-western corner of the Hoddle Street bridge that’ll help keep motorists and the bridge safe. We’ll dig down under the pavement and pour a concrete slab that extends under the road. To do this, we’ll need to dig too far into the lane to allow traffic through.

We aim to have this slip lane open by late June, if not sooner. We’ll add the barrier at the end of June.

If you use this left turn lane, you can:

turn left early onto Johnston Street, right onto

Brunswick Street and make your way north

use the P-turn to turn right onto Johnston Street and make your way north

Ongoing night works

As part of our project, we need to strengthen Hoddle Street Bridge. This means there will be ongoing lane closures on the Eastern Freeway at night from now until mid-2018. While we complete these works, you’ll still be able to enter the freeway.

Project update - April 2018

April has been a big month for Hoddle Street.

From Monday 16 April, we ticked off some milestones and:

opened p-turns at the Johnston and Hoddle Street intersection

started new clearway times between the Eastern Freeway and the Yarra River

moved our works from the centre-median to the outside edge of the road.

P-turns

We’re making your journey on Hoddle Street quicker, easier and safer by changing the way you turn right at major intersections.

The first intersection to change is at Johnston and Hoddle Streets.

At this intersection, you’ll now do a p-turn to go right.

To go right from Hoddle Street onto Johnston Street at all times:

travel through the intersection

do a u-turn

and turn left.

To go right from Johnston Street onto Hoddle during peak times:

turn left

do a u-turn

and travel through the intersection.

You’ll see signs and markings on the road to help you travel through the intersection safely. You’ll no longer have to stop behind drivers waiting to turn right, peak hour queues will be cut, and you’ll get more ‘green time’ to be on your way.

Clearways

We've started new and extended clearway times on Hoddle Street and Punt Road between the Eastern Freeway and the Yarra River.

The clearways give buses a mostly dedicated lane on these roads in the morning and afternoon peak periods north of Victoria Parade. The new clearway places and times are:

Eastern Freeway to Truro Street

Northbound, western side

24/7 clearway

Southbound, eastern side

24/7 clearway

Truro Street to Johnston Street

Northbound, western side

24/7 clearway

Southbound, eastern side

Clearway and bus lane Monday to Friday, 6am to 10am

Johnston Street to Vere Street

Northbound, western side

Clearway and bus lane Monday to Friday, 3:30pm to 7:30pm

Southbound, eastern side

Clearway and bus lane Monday to Friday, 6am to 10am

Vere Street to Victoria Parade

Northbound, western side

No clearway at this time

Southbound, eastern side

Clearway and bus lane Monday to Friday, 6am to 10am

Victoria Parade to Yarra River

Northbound, western side

24/7 clearway

Southbound, eastern side

24/7 clearway

Everywhere – all existing No Stopping areas continue to stay in place.

You can view the clearways and their operating times on the map below.

Hoddle Street pedestrian crossing

In March we closed the Studley Street pedestrian crossing after we found a small amount of asbestos on site. The area is now safe and there are no health or safety risks to you if you’re walking, cycling or living in the area.

In May, we’ll open a new, permanent pedestrian crossing between Peters Lane and Yarra Street. Until then, if you want to cross Hoddle Street on foot or by bike, you’ll need to cross either at Vere Street overpass or the Johnston Street traffic lights.

Managing the environment

To work on the area around the Eastern Freeway for the third on-ramp lane, we’re removing:

some vegetation on the embankment between the ramp and the Eastern Freeway.

trees and shrubs from the median on the Eastern Freeway under Hoddle Street.

As part of landscaping at the end of the project, we’ll replant more than 3 times the number of trees we need to remove.

Swan Street intersection

Until mid-2018, there will be single lane closures with 1 lane open at a slower speed at the intersection of Punt Road and Swan Street. We're carrying out underground service investigations and surveying works between 8:30pm and 5am.

Project background

When you travel along and across Hoddle Street and Punt Road, you’re one of 330,000 people who use it every day.

It’s the busiest arterial road in Melbourne and links the Monash, Eastern and Westgate Freeways. It’s also a vital public transport hub with links to trains, trams, and buses, as well as access to nearby cycling routes.

We’re using innovative intersection designs and new technology to make your journey along Hoddle Street and Punt Road better. Ane we're making sure all road space in the area moves people around our city.

One of our major project design initiatives is to use the principles of continuous flow at the Swan Street and Punt Road intersection.

What is continuous flow?

Continuous flow reduces the long queues and delays you experience when other drivers turn right.

Currently, right turns take up to 40% of green time at the Swan Street and Punt Road intersection during peak hours. If you want who want to travel straight through intersections, you get stuck at red lights when right-turns get green time. This means traffic queues can grow up to a kilometre long.

With continuous flow, when you travel south on Punt Road and turn right onto Olympic Boulevard, you’ll have a new, dedicated right-turn lane. This means drivers on Swan Street can continue traveling through the intersection while you make your turn.

Changing the way you turn right will reduce the delays and queues along Punt Road and give you more time to travel through the intersection.

Watch our video to see how we’re using continuous flow at the intersection of Punt Road and Swan Street.

About the project

Stage 1 of the project will transform the way you move along and across Hoddle Street and Punt Road.

Hoddle Street and Punt Road will work better and smarter, with the Victorian Government’s $60 million to upgrade the intersections of:

Punt Road and Brunton Avenue intersection:

New pedestrian path under Richmond Station rail bridge on the western side of Punt Road to better accommodate the dispersion of pedestrians after events, and to service recreational walkers and joggers connecting with Brunton Avenue.

New pedestrian crossing on Brunton Avenue to provide better and safer connection with MCG and Yarra Park.

In September 2017, we proposed to implement 24/7 clearways in both directions along the following sections of road:

Hoddle Street from the Eastern Freeway to Bridge Road

Punt Road from Bridge Road to the Yarra River

Swan Street between Punt Road and Lennox Street.

We visited all impacted businesses and residents, and asked for feedback about this proposal. Over 40 formal submissions were received and 450 parking surveys were completed during this time. We’d like to thank you for the taking the time to help us understand what’s important to you.

Here’s a snapshot of what we heard:

The majority of concerns were from businesses on the east side of Hoddle Street, about the impacts this proposal would have on customer and staff parking

Many businesses had concerns about the short timeframe being proposed which did not provide enough time to plan ahead to adapt to the changes

We heard concerns about how loading and deliveries would take place

Some people questioned whether current bus use was high enough to need 24/7 bus lanes

There is already a lack of parking in the general area.

We’ve considered your feedback and have revised our proposal. When the Streamlining Hoddle Street project is complete in 2018, clearway operating times will be:

Hoddle Street: Between the Eastern Freeway and Victoria Parade, clearways will provide a dedicated bus lane in the morning and afternoon peak periods. Car parking will remain outside of these times. The clearways will only operate:

On the east side between 6am and 10am

On the west side between 3.30pm and 7.30pm.

Hoddle Street: 24/7 clearways between Bridge Road and Victoria Parade, in both directionsPunt Road: 24/7 clearways between the Yarra River and Bridge Road, in both directionsSwan Street: 24/7 clearway between Punt Road and Stewart Street, in both directions

We’ll get in touch with you again closer to the implementation date to remind you of these changes and we’ll continue working with businesses that require loading and delivery zones, as well as those who require accessible parking near their property.

Project benefits

When the project is complete, your journey will be quicker, easier and safer. No matter how you travel along Hoddle Street, you’ll:

enjoy better and more reliable travel times

experience better priority for public transport

have better local access for all modes of transport

benefit from better transport connections for jobs and opportunities in inner Melbourne and the CBD

benefit from improved links for freight with major destinations across greater Melbourne

Contact us

For information in languages other than English, please call (03) 9280 0783.

ALL CONTENT BELOW THIS BOX WILL APPEAR IN THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN

Meet with us

We’re popping up at local events over the coming months, so if you see us out in the area, come and have a chat. We’ll be able to talk you through the new designs, answer any questions and provide you with more information.

Our project hub will be open every Wednesday in 2018 between 11am and 2pm

Location: Project hub, 2 Swan Street
Cremorne (Cnr Swan St & Punt Rd)

Project timeline

Milestone Title

Milestone Description

Milestone Status (Completed/Current/Upcoming
)

2015

Business case development with community and stakholders

Completed

April 2016

Stage 1 - Streamlining Hoddle Street funded

Completed

Mid 2017

Design development with community and stakeholders

Current

Monday 4 Sept 2017

Clearways consultation begins

Current

Sunday 5 Nov 2017

Clearways consultation ends

Current

Late 2017

Clearways begins

Currrent

Late 2018

Project complete

Upcoming

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